COVID-19 has forced millions of professionals world wide to abandon their office and relocate to a remote work style. As a report by InsureMyTrip has made clear, the pandemic has also led full-time employees and freelancers to try a lifestyle as a digital nomad. As more companies have accommodated these wandering professionals, so have country destinations that recognize the opportunity to build their professional corps and support their econ... Read More

Litigation involving the EB-5 immigrant investor visa has increased, quickly becoming the most viable solution to some of the challenges many immigrant investors face. The barriers set by USCIS have made applications unnecessarily difficult. I-526 petitions linger for years, and the requests for more documentation are now inevitable. Overall, the denial rate has skyrocketed. Is the USCIS EB-Immigrant Processing Office (IPO) doing what they ha... Read More

Foreign nationals seeking permanent resident status in the U.S. are relying on the EB-5 investment route when there is no other way. Various reasons might be surmised for the popularity of the investment option, including the reduced availability of other options under U.S. immigration laws and the comparatively low investment amount of $900,000, which is lower than many other countries, including Canada. Those who would benefit from EB-5: ... Read More

Italy offers digital nomads enticing taxation opportunities. Following the pandemic, many workers don't need to flock to their office each day. Picking up on this trend, a number of countries see the benefits of attracting these digital nomads. Greece currently offers tax relief at a rate of 50 per cent. Spain, Estonia and Dubai offer ad hoc visas, and Italy as joined in the competition with some fantastic incentives. For many, the tools of t... Read More

Information for investors seeking E-2 visas following the acquisition of treaty country citizenship by investment ("CBI") is especially relevant in light of the changes in the EB-5 program post-November 20, 2019. This article will highlight country options available for those investors whose country (e.g. China, India, Vietnam, and others) does not have E-2 visa availability, looking to obtain citizenship in a country that has a bilateral invest... Read More

When the investor's EB-5 petition has been approved, but there has been fraud or misappropriation of funds by the regional center, NCE or project, the investor retains their priority date. Where there is fraud by the investor resulting in the approval of an EB-5 petition, the priority date is not retained. If there is a material change after I-526 approval, which results in a revocation of the approved I-526 petition, the investor may keep their... Read More

A federal appeals court in Washington has ruled that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) unreasonably denied a group of investors' petitions for EB-5 visas on the basis that their investment didn't comply with the rules of the program. The D.C. Circuit determined that the five immigrant investors' financial contributions to a senior living facility were indeed risky enough for them to qualify for EB-5 visas. According tot he pa... Read More

The new EB-5 regulations came into effect on November 21, 2019, and several amendments have been introduced to the program. Established in 1990 by the Immigration Act of 1990, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program allows eligible, foreign investors to become lawful permanent residents by investing at least $900,000 to finance a business in the U.S. New Standard Minimum Investments The standard minimum investment amount is now $1.8 ... Read More

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized regulations which may upend the EB-5 investor visa program. The rule, which increases minimum investment amounts in TEA areas to $900,000 from $900,000 and all other areas to $1.8 million from $1.8 million, will go into effect on November 21, 2019. The adjustments to the minimum investment amount reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index since 1990, with further adjustments to take place... Read More

New rules will be published by the government on July 24, 2019 that will take effect on November 21, 2019. The main rule changes that are confirmed as of now are: TEA (Targeted Employment Area) investment amount for the EB-5 visa has been raised to $900,000, while areas outside a TEA will now require a minimum investment of $1.8 million.New technical rules, such as clarification on I-829 procedures for removal of conditiona... Read More